Elongated, collapsible device

ABSTRACT

An elongated device such as a multisectional rod constructed of a plurality of elongated component elements arranged end-to-end when the rod is in its extended configuration. A flexible, releasable tension member secures the component elements in endto-end contact and, upon release of the tension member, permits the elements to be collapsed. At least one core is disposed within each of the component elements. The cores have oppositely, longitudinally spaced front faces and they are longitudinally shiftable relative to the component elements. When the tension member is tightened, the respective core faces contact one another and the cores are shifted relative to the component elements into a position in which their front faces are axially offset relative to the ends of the component elements to thereby rigidly interlock the component elements in their extended, endto-end contact and to thereby form a rigid, elongated, straight rod.

Goldmann [451 May 27, 1975 ELONGATED, COLLAPSIBLE DEVICE [76] Inventor: Bernhard Goldmann,,\ iktorgasse,

Vienna, Austria, A-1040 [22] Filed: Dec. 20, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 426,853

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Dec. 22, 1972 Austria 11032/72 [52] US. Cl. 403/291; 248/159; 403/377; 403/408 [51] Int. Cl. F16b 7/10 [58] Field of Search 403/376, 3, 166, 291, 377, 403/410, 408; 248/160, 159. 414.

Primary ExaminerWerner N. Schroeder Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Townsend and Townsend [57] ABSTRACT An elongated device such as a multisectional rod constructed of a plurality of elongated component elements arranged end-to-end when the rod is in its extended configuration. A flexible, releasable tension member secures the component elements in end-toend contact and, upon release of the tension member, permits the elements to be collapsed. At least one core is disposed within each of the component elements The cores have oppositely, longitudinally spaced front faces and they are longitudinally shiftable relative to the component elements. When the tension member is tightened, the respective core faces contact one another and the cores are shifted relative to the component elements into a position in which their front faces are axially offset relative to the ends of the component elements to thereby rigidly interlock the component elements in their extended, end-to-end contact and to thereby form a rigid, elongated, straight rod.

14 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEUHAYZYIQYS SHEET 'IIIIIIIIIIJIIIIIA mmmmmm ELONGATED, COLLAPSIBLE DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention refers to acollapsible element, for example a collapsible rod, a collapsible surface or a collapsible three-dimensional shape such as a collapsible bridge, consisting of a plurality of component elements each of which is permeated in its longitudinal direction by at least one flexible tension member, i.e. a tension rope, for clamping together the component elements strung on the tension member.

There are known rods consisting of tubular component parts which are permeated by a tension rope, said component parts are collapsed and thus in an easily transportable condition with the tension rope relaxed but are pressed together with the tension rope stresses. Such a known embodiment suffers from the drawback of not offering sufficient stability of the rod and of insufficient resistivity of the rod against bending and breaking forces even if the front faces of the tubular component elements are provided with interengaging protrusions and recesses, respectively, at the front faces contacting one another.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to avoid said mentioned drawbacks and to provide a collapsible element consisting of a plurality of component elements being pressed against one another by means of a tension member and having in the prestressed condition a sufficient stability. It is a further object of the invention to provide a collapsible element having a great stability and a high resistivity against bending and breaking forces. The invention essentially consists in that within the component elements at least one core is arranged for being shifted in longitudinal direction of said component parts, noting that said cores of adjacent component elements are contacting one another with their front faces, and in that a means connected to the tension member is provided for shifting said cores. The mentioned cores, each of which is located within two adjacent component elements in its shifted position and with the tension member stressed, have as a result a bending-resistent connection of two adjacent component elements so that the whole element composed of component elements shows a high stability and a high strength.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is further illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a rod composed ofa plurality of component elements with the tension member relaxed; and;

FIG. 2 shows the rod of FIG. I with the tension member stressed;

FIG. 3 represents a mono-pod for photographic purposes and consisting of a plurality of component elements;

FIG. 4 represents a further embodiment of a rod composed of a plurality of component elements with the tension member relaxed; and I FIG. 5 shows the rod of FIG. 4 with the tension member stressed;

FIG. 6 shows a section line VI VI of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The rod shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is composed ofa plurality of component elements 1 arranged in a series in their longitudinal direction and being provided with a longitudinally extending opening 2 within which cores 3 are arranged for being shifted. These cores 3 comprise a longitudinal bore 4 which is permeated by a tension member, for example a tension rope 5. The cores 3 act simultaneously as a guide member for the tension rope 5 noting that conveniently both, the tension rope 5 as well as the core 3, are centrically disposed within the component elements I. For limiting the shifting path of the cores 3 and for preventing the cores from falling out of the longitudinally extending openings 2 in unstressed condition of the tension rope 5, the cores are provided with a longitudinal groove 22 which extends only over part-of the length of the cores and which is engaged by a protrusion 21 extending inwardly within opening 2. This protrusion forms together with both end faces of the longitudinal groove 22 a stop which limits shifting movement of the cores 3. As a matter of fact the longitudinal groove may also be pro- ,vided within the opening 2 and the protrusion may extend from core 3. The component element 1' located at the end of the rod has an opening 2 in its turn being continued by a recess 6 within which a tappet 7 is guided. This tappet 7 consists of an enlarged head 8 guided within recess 6 and of a protrusion 9 extending from said head and having a cross section corresponding to the cross section of the cores 3. Said tappet 7 is connected to the tension rope 5 so that when stressing this tension rope the tappet is being moved in direction of arrow 10. For subjecting the tension rope 5 to tension the tension rope is connected to a lever 11 at the end of the tension rope opposed to said tapper 7, said lever 11 being linked to an extension 12 of a component element 1" opposed to the component element 1. Such construction allows in a simple manner shifting movement of the cores 3 for the desired distance when subjecting to tension the tension rope 5, noting that by arranging tappet 7 within recess 6 not only a guide for tappet 7 is provided for but also a cover therefore is provided which prevents shapes from becoming clamped when shifting said tappet.

As can be seen in FIG. 2 in which the tension rope 5 is shown in stressed condition, under this condition each core 3 having a length corresponding to the length of a component element 1 is located with one of its halves within one component element and with the other of its halves within the adjacent component part so that a bending force-resistant and a breaking forceresistent connection of the individual component elements is warranted. With the tension rope 5 not being subjected to tension each core 3 is arranged within the interior of a component element and does not protrude therefrom so that folding up of the element is facilitated.

The monopod for photographic purposes shown in FIG. 3 differs from the rod shown in FIG. 1 and 2 only in that the component element 1 housing tappet 7 is provided with a pointed end 13 by which of means the .monopod may be rammed into ground and in that the component element 1 located at the other end has a tripod thread 14. Furthermore, a return path for the tension rope 5 is provided within component element 1", noting that the end of said tension rope opposing tappet 7 is provided with a hoop 15 which may with the tension rope subjected to tension be rested within a rest .16 arranged at the outer side of the component elements 1.

FIGS. 4 to 6 show an embodiment of a rod in which the cores 3 are, in stressed condition of the rope 5, not only located by one half in adjacent component elements 1 but also locked with these component elements. For this purpose, core 3 is provided with teeth 24 which extend into recesses 23 of the component elements 1 and which can be locked within these recesses with the tension rope being subjected to tension. Such a construction provides the advantage that adjacent component elements 1 are tightly connected by means of cores 3, so that a very stiff element is formed which can resist even severest stresses. The recesses 23 are conveniently given a cross section corresponding to a saw tooth, noting that the teeth of the cores can be pressed against the saw tooth-like recesses when rotating said cores. For effecting such a rotation in a simple manner the longitudinal grooves 22 located at the outer wall of the cores 3 or on the component elements 1 and being engaged by the protrusions 21 extending from the component elements 1 and, respectively, the cores 3 are given a helical shape, so that the cores 3 are rotated when being shifted in longitudinal direction under the action of the tension rope 5. In this manner, when subjecting to tension the tensions rope 5, cores 3 are not only shifted in their longitudinal direction but also rotated in view of the protrusions 21 engaging the helical grooves 22, noting that the arrangement is such that at the end of the shifting movement the teeth 24 are presses against the saw tooth-like recesses 23 for attaining a frictional lock between the cores 3 and the component elements 1. For preventing the component ele- -ments 1 from being rotated together with the cores 3,

the component elements have aligned bores 25 through which is passed a positioning rope 26. This positioning rope is by means of suitable equipment subjected to tension prior to subjecting to tension the tension rope 5, so that the component elements are securely prevented from becoming rotated when subsequently subjecting to tension by tension rope 5.

To be in the position to bring the cores 3 back into the non-locking position, in which these cores are arranged within only one component element 1, a component element 1 located at one end of the rod, ie the component element located at the end opposite to tappet 7, is provided with a longitudinal slot 27 extending in longitudinal direction of this component element and extending through this component element. A releasing pin 28 is provided within this longitudinal slot 27 for being shifted within longitudinal slot 27 in the longitudinal direction thereof and is shifting back these cores when being shifted in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the core 3 when subjecting to tension the tension rope 5, thus effecting a releasing action.

Although only rod-like elements have been represented in the embodiments, also facial or spatial shapes may be formed by means of elements according to the invention. Thus, for instance, it is possible to provide the component elements 1, with a plurality of parallely extending openings within which cores 3 are provided for being shifted, noting that each row of cores ispermeated by a tension rope 5. In this case conveniently the ends of all tension ropes 5 are connected to one single tappet having comb-like shape so that on subjecting to tension the tension rope 5 all rows of cores are shifted into a position in which they provide a pressureresistent and bending resistent connection of the individual component elements 1.

What I claim is:

1. An elongated device collapsible into a plurality of shorter sections comprising a plurality of component elements, each of which is longitudinally permeated by at least one flexible tension member for clamping together said component elements strung on the tension member in end-to-end contact. at least one core within each of said component elements, said cores being longitudinally shiftable relative to said component elements, each core having longitudinally spaced from faces, the cores disposed in adjacent component elements contacting one another with their front faces, and a means connected to the tension member for shifting the cores into a position in which the front faces of the cores are axially offset relative to the ends of the component elements. 2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cores include a longitudinal bore and wherein said tension member is arranged within the longitudinal bore of the cores.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the length of the cores as measured in longitudinal direction of the tension member essentially corresponds to the length of a component element, and wherein each core is ar ranged for being shifted for a distance corresponding to about one half of the length of the component element.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein means are provided for limiting the path of shifting movement of the cores within the component element.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said means for limiting the path of shifting movement comprise a groove extending over at least part of the length of the core, and a protrusion engaging said groove.

6. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the component elements include a recess and wherein the core is provided at its circumference with teeth extending into the recesses and adapted for being locked within these recesses with the tension member being subjected to tension.

7. A device as claimed in claim 6, including means for effecting relative rotational movement between the component elements and the core, wherein the recesses have a cross section corresponding in shape to a saw tooth, and wherein the teeth of the cores are adapted for being pressed against the saw tooth-shaped recesses when rotating said cores.

8. A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the groove is helical in shape.

9. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the component elements are permeated in their longitudinal direction by a positioning rope.

10. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the component element located at one end of the element is penetrated by a longitudinal slot arranged transversely relative to the longitudinal direction of this component element, a releasing pin being arranged within said longitudinal slot.

11. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tension member is with one of its ends connected to a tappet contacting an adjacent core and having its path of shifting movement limited by a stop.

12. A device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said tappet is arranged within a recess continuing the longitudinal bore of one component element.

6 13. A device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the taplength of one core. pet has an enlarged head being guided within said re- 14. A device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the tapcess, a protrusion having a cross section corresponding pet is connected to a plurality of parallel extending tento the core extending from said head and having a sion members. length approximately corresponding to half of the 5 

1. An elongated device collapsible into a plurality of shorter sections comprising a plurality of component elements, each of which is longitudinally permeated by at least one flexible tension member for clamping together said component elements strung on the tension member in end-to-end contact, at least one Core within each of said component elements, said cores being longitudinally shiftable relative to said component elements, each core having longitudinally spaced front faces, the cores disposed in adjacent component elements contacting one another with their front faces, and a means connected to the tension member for shifting the cores into a position in which the front faces of the cores are axially offset relative to the ends of the component elements.
 2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cores include a longitudinal bore and wherein said tension member is arranged within the longitudinal bore of the cores.
 3. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the length of the cores as measured in longitudinal direction of the tension member essentially corresponds to the length of a component element, and wherein each core is arranged for being shifted for a distance corresponding to about one half of the length of the component element.
 4. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein means are provided for limiting the path of shifting movement of the cores within the component element.
 5. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said means for limiting the path of shifting movement comprise a groove extending over at least part of the length of the core, and a protrusion engaging said groove.
 6. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the component elements include a recess and wherein the core is provided at its circumference with teeth extending into the recesses and adapted for being locked within these recesses with the tension member being subjected to tension.
 7. A device as claimed in claim 6, including means for effecting relative rotational movement between the component elements and the core, wherein the recesses have a cross section corresponding in shape to a saw tooth, and wherein the teeth of the cores are adapted for being pressed against the saw tooth-shaped recesses when rotating said cores.
 8. A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the groove is helical in shape.
 9. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the component elements are permeated in their longitudinal direction by a positioning rope.
 10. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the component element located at one end of the element is penetrated by a longitudinal slot arranged transversely relative to the longitudinal direction of this component element, a releasing pin being arranged within said longitudinal slot.
 11. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tension member is with one of its ends connected to a tappet contacting an adjacent core and having its path of shifting movement limited by a stop.
 12. A device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said tappet is arranged within a recess continuing the longitudinal bore of one component element.
 13. A device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the tappet has an enlarged head being guided within said recess, a protrusion having a cross section corresponding to the core extending from said head and having a length approximately corresponding to half of the length of one core.
 14. A device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the tappet is connected to a plurality of parallel extending tension members. 